Kosciuszko

Kosciuszko National Park

The best known and best loved National Parks in Australia, Kosciuszko National Park is named after Mount Kosciuszko, which is at 2,228 meters and is Australia’s highest mountain. Around 150 kms in length, the park is the largest park in New South Wales and the Australian Alps.

With many recreational opportunities, the park allows you to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery around the developed resort areas and a thorough self reliant recreation in the wilderness. Presenting a mesmeric experience of past crystal clear streams, glacial lakes, deep gorges, high peaks, historic huts and other culturally significant sites, the park also has many scenic camping sites with basic facilities. Other activities that you can enjoy here include guided walks, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and mountaineering adventures.

The exotic surrounding beauty of the area is the prime attraction among the places of interest here, with easy accessibility to a number of excellent drives and trails. At the northern end of the park in Kosciuszko, you will also find the Yarrangobilly Caves, the five limestone caves that are approximately 440 million years old.

Location: Australia, near the Victoria border

Climate: Alpine climate. Only peaks of the main range are subjected to consistent heavy winter snow. The climate favors the formation of glaciers, evidence of which can still be seen today along with cirques moraines, tarn lakes, rochemoutonnées and other glacial features.

You will have to wear woolens at this place.

Best time to visit: Autumn and Spring

Timings: The park is open throughout the year.

How to reach: By car, coach and train. While driving 450 kms from Sydney, taking the Kosciuszko Alpine Way is advisable.

Places of interest

Charlotte Pass

Location: In the heart of the NSW Snowy Mountains

Best time to visit: Spring (April-May), Autumn (September-October)

Charlotte Pass is Australia's highest village which offers skiing, snowboarding and bushwalking in Kosciuszko National Park. The Australia's highest Resort receives some of the most consistent snowfalls, delivering the best quality of natural snow.

Crowned by the majestic peak of Mt Kosciuszko, Kosciuszko is the country's highest mountain. It just takes a couple of hours in which this iconic day walk from Thredbo may have you conquering the summit of Mount Kosciuszko. You are going to be on a high, while soaking in the epic views from Australia's highest point. Its melting snows serve as a source of water for the rivers and reservoirs that make up the mountain’s Hydro-electric Scheme. The mountain was named in honor of the patriot and statesman, Tadeusz Kosciuszko by Paul Strzelecki, a Polish explorer in 1840.

Perisher Valley

Location: In the Southern Hemisphere

Best time to visit: June to September

The largest Ski Resort in the Southern Hemisphere is regarded as Australia's premier winter ski resort and is dominated by the 2,054 meters Mount Perisher. It is a popular spot for mountain biking and bushwalking during Autumn, Spring and Summer.

The word ‘Perisher’ means ‘Extreme and Amazing’, which is appropriate for this place.

Selwyn Snow Resort

Location: In the Southern Hemisphere

Best time to visit: June to October from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.

The small ski resort is located in the most northern part of the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council and Kosciuszko National Park. Mount Selwyn is the Northern-most ski field in Kosciuszko National Park.

Although Selwyn is dusted with natural snowfall throughout the ski season, it is boosted by a snow-making system that covers the majority of the resort’s skiable terrain. It ensures that you get well-covered snow slopes when you visit this place.

During the warmer months, you can enjoy mountain biking, bushwalking and horseback riding here.

Thredbo

Location: In the Southern Hemisphere

Best time to visit: June to September

The year-round resort at the base of Mount Crackenback in the Snowy Mountains, Thredbo is an alpine village and ski resort in South-Eastern Australia. The Kosciuszko Express chairlift provides access to ski runs and offers panoramic mountain views year-round. Wildflowers dot the mountains of Kosciuszko National Park in spring and summer. The trout-filled Thredbo River winds through the village.